FM Declares Complete Solidarity with Burkina Faso’s Efforts to Fight Extremism and Terrorism

On Jun 9, 2023

Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, expressed Friday in Dakhla the full support of Morocco for Burkina Faso’s efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.

At a joint press conference with his Burkinabe counterpart, Olivia Ragnaghnewendé Rouamba, at the conclusion of the 4th session of the Morocco-Burkina Faso Joint Commission, Bourita stated, “Morocco firmly condemns the cowardly attacks that have targeted Burkina Faso, a brotherly country, and which are contrary to the spirit of tolerance and coexistence that has always marked this country.

Given that over 60% of all terrorist activities worldwide take place in sub-Saharan Africa, he noted that the situation in Burkina Faso is intimately related to the unrest in the Sahel and Sahara region, where armed and terrorist groups have discovered fertile ground for their expansion.

He lamented the fact that more people have fallen victim to terrorist attacks in this area than in the Middle East or Southeast Asia.

“Today, there are at least 12 terrorist groups operating in the Sahel and Sahara region, colluding with 19 separatist groups that threaten the territorial integrity of African countries,” he stressed, noting that the scourge of terrorist group infiltration into Africa is a general phenomenon.

Burkina Faso, which is in the firing line, needs support and backing, given that the fight against terrorism in this country will have an impact on the entire Sahel and West Africa region, he added.

The Kingdom, which has made the fight against extremism and terrorism an absolute priority, continues to call on the international community to pay particular attention to this scourge, by supporting the measures and actions taken by African countries faced with this phenomenon, according to a holistic and innovative approach combining humanitarian action, development and peacebuilding, with a view to putting an end to the phenomenon of terrorism and violent extremism, he underlined.

Bourita affirmed that Morocco is following with interest the development of the transition process in Burkina Faso, and has confidence in the ability of the country’s leaders to deal with all developments in the country with wisdom and with the supreme national interest in mind, stressing that the measures taken in recent months by president Ibrahim Traoré are important for strengthening stability and relaunching the development process in this brotherly country.

After emphasizing that the transition process is moving forward, Bourita stated that Morocco continues to hold the view that elections are not held in order to achieve stability but rather as a means to that end. She added that holding elections in the absence of security and ongoing attacks is absurd.

In this regard, he applauded the Burkinabe authorities’ prudence, stating that Morocco is pleased and that the Kingdom is once more expressing its complete solidarity with Burkina Faso at this time.

“Working to strengthen state structures and interact with humanitarian needs demonstrates the existence of a sincere will to get Burkina Faso out of this difficult situation,” he continued, highlighting Morocco’s readiness to support the development program launched by H.E. president Ibrahim Traoré through support and the exchange of expertise, with the goal of achieving the desired results.

Burkina Faso has demonstrated remarkable stability and steadfastness in this particular situation, continued Bourita, who expressed confidence that this nation, with its leadership, its resources, the tenacity of its people, and the support of its allies, is able to overcome the challenges it is currently facing.

Nasser Bourita, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Expatriates, and Olivia Ragnaghnèwendé Rouamba, the Burkinabe Minister of Foreign Affairs, jointly presided over the opening of the fourth session of the Morocco-Burkina Faso Joint Cooperation Commission in Dakhla.

In accordance with the guidelines established by the Heads of State of the two countries, His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Excellency president Ibrahim Traoré, this session provided an opportunity to explore new horizons for strengthening cooperation relations between Morocco and Burkina Faso and to develop fruitful partnerships in a wide range of fields.

The meeting, which was attended by the ambassador, the director general of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), and officials from a number of departments, ended with the signing of 12 agreements that covered a range of bilateral cooperation topics.